The View

This week GSU will launch “Operation Mascot,” the university’s official search for a school mascot. The university is soliciting the help of students, staff, faculty and the extended community for suggestions for what the new mascot should be.

The mascot will be the university’s first. It is another achievement that accompanies other recent firsts, including the university’s first freshman class and first student residence coming this fall, and several collegiate and recreational sports teams that will soon begin competition for the first time.

The university will begin taking suggestions from Tuesday, Feb. 25 until Monday March 10. Go to www.govst.edu/operationmascot to submit your suggestions. Anyone can submit a suggestion, whether they are affiliated with the university currently or not.

A search committee will take the suggestions and choose four finalists, then submit the finalists to a designer to sketch. The four finalists and their accompanying designs will be made public so the GSU community can vote for their choice. The mascot will then be chosen based on a combination of popular vote and university officials’ input.

The winner and three other finalists will receive prizes. In the event that more than one person submits the same idea chosen as a finalist, the prize will go to the person who submits the suggestion first according to the time stamp on the submission.